Tablet Computer/ Netbook/ Smart phone

What is it? - Tablet computers, netbooks, and smart phones are small computers that can access, capture, and hold information digitally. Most tablet computers have an onscreen keyboard, while smart phones range from Qwerty keyboards to full keyboards. Netbooks have an attached full physical keyboard.

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How is it used? - Tablet computers, netbooks, and select smartphones can be used to access web documents, access student and school data, quickly and conveniently capture formal observation data and develop tools for efficient and productive classroom observations. Due to its relatively small size it can be brought into and out of the classroom unobtrusively. All three types of devices have the ability to connect to the internet wirelessly.

Effectiveness - Mobile devices allow administrators to capture data within an observation in the moment as well as use tools to analyze data more efficiently. In addition it allows administrators to bring in outside information and data to the observation process. Mobile devices can aid in collecting data obtained through selective verbatim through audio recording devices; verbal flow, interaction analysis and class traffic through drawing applications; sampling through tally marks; global scan through a combination of video, audio, and note-taking applications; and even video analysis is available through select mobile devices.

Austin Sky Technology- Software suites that give Principals access to student information, teacher evaluation and classroom walk-through functionality from their mobile devices.

iPad Applications for School Administrators

· iObserve- is a data collection tool that will help you conduct surveys, complete inspections, judge sporting competitions, observe experiments, appraise items or bid on jobs. It can also be used to collect information for teacher observations

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· MobileNoter- is a multifunctional note taking application which can sync with Microsoft OneNote.

· MyScratchWork- allows an administrator to take notes and browse the web while having the two side by side to avoid back and forth flipping.

· ReaddleDocs- is all-in-one document viewer and file manager for iPad. All files are saved to your iPad locally.

· SoundPaper- is the best way to take notes on your iPad. It tracks what a supervisor types and draws while recording audio to avoid missing important details

· Teachscape- educators can collect data, upload to the online reporting system via a wireless or data connection, and then log into the Teachscape which is a website to generate reports and manage their entries.

  • MxWeb- web-based, handheld-connected products from Media-X Systems

· mVal- A completely web-based software that can be used by teachers to complete growth plans, self-reflections, portfolios, and allows them to participate fully in the appraisal process. The program also allows supervisors to create a walkthrough template to quickly record information related to curriculum, school plans, health & safety, technology or any other area that is important to the teacher’s evaluation.

Resources:

Mid-Hudson Regional Information Center's iPad Resources for Administrators (2011, March 16), Retrieved on March 29, 2011 from http://www.mhric.org/ipad/index.html .

MxWeb. http://www.media-x.com/products/mxweb/index.php

Sheninger, Eric (2010, July 6), “More iPad Apps” on A Principal’s Reflection, retrieved on March 29, 2011 from http://esheninger.blogspot.com/2010/07/more-ipad-apps.html .

Teacher Evaluation Software. http://www.austinsky.com/index.html